Major Spoilers Staff Picks for April 22, 2015

IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY!

But what to read?

Fortunately, the Major Spoilers Staff have comic book recommendations for you!

THE BLACK HOOD #3 Writer: Duane Swierczynski Artists: Michael Gaydos & Various Cover: Francesco Francavilla Publisher: Dark Circle Comics/Archie Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: “The Bullet’s Kiss,” Part 3. The Black Hood is supposed to be dead. Shot, de-masked, autopsied, buried. So who’s running around town in a ratty black hood, declaring war on the underworld? The City of Philadelphia is electrified by the fleeting glimpses they see on social media – but both the cops and the drug gangs want him stopped at all costs. However, the new Black Hood may not have to be stopped; he’s coming unglued all on his own.

GEORGE: Grim, gritty and good. A once-heroic cop, hopped up on pain and painkillers, descending into the guise of a dead, disgraced vigilante. The Black Hood is a well-drawn, nasty slice of street-level angst.

WAYNE: I’ve been enjoying this excellent crime noir comic since it hit the ground running a couple of months ago, and I highly recommend it!

BORDERLANDS FALL OF FYRESTONE #8 Writer: Mike Neumann Artist: Agustin Padilla Publisher: IDW Publishing Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: Far outside of town, the Vault Hunter receive a last-minute warning from Tannis that a dangerous warlord is on their tail and he’s out for blood! In the exciting conclusion of Tannis and the Vault, Lilith, Mordecai, Roland, and Brick will face their toughest challenge yet.

ROB: Still going to be excited to see anything Borderlands coming out, and this is just part of that. A phenomenal part. Between getting the original Vault Hunters true voices and just the bombastic story telling, this has been great.

ROB: As we get closer and closer to the conclusion of this series everything just keeps getting weirder and weirder, and it is AWESOME.

CONVERGENCE: THE FLASH #1 Writer: Dan Abnett Artist: Federico Dallocchio Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Trapped in Gotham City, Barry Allen has nowhere to run. He fights on, seeking justice as well as a way to save the city, but he faces a Tangent Universe foe who thinks faster than even The Flash can run!

RODRIGO:Hey… did they capitalize “Tangent” in the solicit on purpose? Very sneaky, DC. You’re trying to make me buy your comics by appealing both to my nostalgia AND my (admittedly weird) self-image as a shrewd boy detective.

STEPHEN: I love me some Flash, and I really like the Tangent Universe, so here’s hoping week three is better than what we’ve seen before.

CONVERGENCE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1 Writer: David Gallaher Artist: Ande Parks, Steve Ellis Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Say the Oath, save the world! If only being in the Green Lantern Corps was that easy. Hal has resigned, John is busy, and Guy is pissed. Together for the first time, they’ll save Gotham City or die trying!

ROB: Convergence has been interesting at least, giving us another glimpse at worlds that once existed, versions of characters that haven’t been for ages, and this week Green Lantern is the one I’m most interested in.

CONVERGENCE HAWKMAN #1 Writer: Jeff Parker Artists: Timothy Truman, Enrique Alcatena Publisher: DC Comics Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Hawkman and Hawkgirl put their Shadow War on hold as they face the might of anthropomorphic rat-men and bat-men in the deadly land of Kamandi!

WAYNE: I have always had a fondness for winged characters, and Hawkman is a favorite of mine! To see him drawn by Tim Truman of Hawkworld fame again will be pure pleasure, and Jeff Parker is a great storyteller, so I’m really looking forward to this one! If you like the Winged Wonder, don’t miss this first of two parts!

GEORGE: After a brief hiatus, Deadly Class is back. Remender and Craig work in perfect lockstep together, putting together a great comic that covers the awkwardness and joys of adolescence, amidst a backdrop of strange violence and drama.

DIVINITY #3 Writer: Matt Kindt Artist: Trevor Hairsine Publisher: Valiant Entertainment Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: The sci-fi saga of 2015 continues – from New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (RAI) and blockbuster artist Trevor Hairsine (X-Men: Deadly Genesis)! A being with the power of a god roams free in the Australian Outback, bringing life to the barren wasteland and making him a hero to natives who live there and the visitors that have sought him out. But can the global superpowers of Earth rely on this long-lost cosmonaut not to abuse his seemingly limitless power? The entity called DIVINITY will put that trust to the test when he discovers what became of the life he left behind…and the family he once knew…

GEORGE:Divinity is a beautiful, ambitious slice of storytelling. Divinity is as interesting a character as I’ve seen in some time, and I’m on board for the resolution of his cryptic nature. Valiant’s doing really strong work these days and Divinity may be at the top of the heap.

LEGEND OF KORRA: AANG MEMORIAL STATUE Statue 11” Tall and ‘750 Edition Size Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $149.99 SOLICITATION: In Legend of Korra, an enormous metal statue is located on a small island off the shores of Republic City. It depicts a teenage Aang dressed in traditional Air Nomad attire. In the figure’s left hand is a staff featuring the airbending symbol on its upper end. The figure’s left foot rests on a slightly higher surface in the form of a lotus flower. The pedestal on which its other foot stands is octagonal in shape, with upturned tips at each vertex surrounded by railings.

Dark Horse Deluxe, in coordination with Nickelodeon and the Avatar and Korra creators, has exactingly reproduced this piece as a hand-painted limited-edition collectable. Edition size TBD at press time.

RODRIGO:I’m torn about this one, on the one hand it would look really good on my bookshelf. On the other hand, I once won a bet against my parents that entitles me to place whatever I want in their nativity scene at christmas.

THE LIFE AFTER #9 Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov Artist: Gabo Publisher: Oni Press Cover Price: $3.99 SOLICITATION: The Consultant brings Essie, Nettie, and the kid army into Hell to save Jude and Hemingway. However, the Consultant’s new love-and-flowers attitude melts quickly in the hellish heat, and Essie soon has a fight on her hands. It’s up to Ometochtli, the last of the Old Gods, to tip the scales in their favor… but they might also be tipping their hand.

WAYNE: I can honestly say I’ve never read a book quite like this one before! It’s full of fascinating characters and situations, something Mr. Fialkov excels at! If you want some variety in your reading diet, don’t miss this engaging title!

The Author

Stephen Schleicher

Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment.

You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...